If you are seeking permanent residence, then Ontario PNP PR pathways are now open for applications.
You might also have noticed that the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has issued only four invitations to apply for nomination in 2025. Well, this is a far cry from the 14,760 invitations the OINP issued during the first two months of 2024.
Moreover, this pause in OINP immigration draws mirrors that of many other Provincial Nominee Programs in Canada as provinces adjust to halved provincial immigration allocations for 2025.
Which Streams Are Presently Issuing ITAs And Accepting New EOIs?
At the time of writing, only one stream of the OINP has issued ITAs in 2025, i.e., the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream.
The OINP held a single draw under this stream on January 4, issuing four ITAs in a targeted draw to candidates in the federal Economic Mobility Pathways Project (EMPP). The EMPP is a permanent work pathway for skilled refugees as well as displaced people seeking to find employment in Canada.
A representative from the OINP stated that all streams that require candidates to proactively apply to be considered are still accepting new EOIs:
- The Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream
- The Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream
- The Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream
- The Master’s Graduate Stream
- The PhD Graduate stream
In addition to the streams mentioned above, for which candidates must submit EOIs directly to the province, the OINP has Express Entry-aligned streams to which candidates cannot directly apply.
Ontario Express Entry-aligned streams also remain open, and the OINP proactively considers all candidates with valid Express Entry profiles, issuing NOIs, i.e., Notifications of Interest to eligible candidates through the Express Entry system.
Under this passive consideration model, all candidates have to do is keep their Express Entry profiles up to date as well as active in order to be considered for any Express Entry-aligned OINP streams for which they are eligible.
Candidates who receive NOIs from the OINP via Express Entry can further respond by applying to the province for nomination.
If successful, these candidates obtain a provincial nomination from Ontario, which awards them an additional 600 CRS scores, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an ITA for permanent residency from the federal government.
The OINP has not offered a date for the resumption of draws in 2025.
Overview Of Eligibility Criteria For OINP Streams
Ontario PNP PR pathways are now open for applications. Below is the overview of eligibility criteria of these pathways.
| Stream | Job Offer Required? | Express-Entry Aligned? | Summary Of Main Requirements |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream | Yes | No | Job offer requirements:
– Full-time – Permanent – Skilled occupation – Pays ≥ the occupation’s median wage in Ontario – And lastly, urgency necessary to the employer’s business. Candidate requirements: – Work experience – Licensing (if required). |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream | Yes | No | Job offer requirements:
– Full-time – Permanent – Skilled occupation – Pays ≥ the occupation’s median wage in Ontario – And lastly, urgency necessary to the employer’s business Candidate requirements: – Graduate of an eligible Ontario school – Must apply within two years of graduation. |
| Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream | Yes | No | Job offer requirements:
– Full-time – Permanent – Eligible occupation – In eligible location – Pays ≥ the occupation’s median wage in Ontario – And lastly, urgency necessary to the employer’s business. Candidate requirements: – 9 months work experience. |
| Master’s Graduate Stream | No | No | – Master’s degree from an eligible Ontario school.
– Language proficiency ≥ CLB 7. – Has lived in Ontario for at least one of the previous two years. – Must apply within two years of graduation. – Settlement funds. |
| PhD Graduate Stream | No | No | – PhD from an eligible Ontario school.
– Language proficiency ≥ CLB 7. – Has lived in Ontario for at least one of the previous two years. – Must apply within two years of graduation. – Settlement funds. |
| Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream | No | Yes | – Express Entry profile.
– Qualify for CEC or FSWP. – Master’s or PhD. – Language proficiency ≥ CLB 7. – Settlement funds. |
| Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream | No | Yes | – Express Entry profile.
– One year of Ontario work experience in your skilled trade in the past two years. – License or certificate (if applicable). – Living in Ontario with legal work authorization. – Language proficiency ≥ CLB 5. – And finally, settlement funds. |
| Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker | No | Yes | – Express Entry profile.
– Qualify for CEC or FSWP. – Have a university degree, or be a nurse. – French proficiency ≥ NCLC 7. – English proficiency ≥ CLB 6. – And finally, settlement funds. |
All OINP streams require that candidates have an intention to live in Ontario once they become permanent residents and that they maintain valid temporary status in Canada during the application process.
Why Has Provincial Immigration In Canada Slowed?
In October 2024, IRCC made the decision to halve the total allocation of immigrant landings under provincial immigration as Canada looked to adjust immigration levels in the face of housing and affordability pressures.
This change is detailed in Canada’s Immigration Level Plan, with overall PNP allocation falling from 110,000 in 2024 to just 55,000 immigrant landings in 2025.
In addition, early in 2025, IRCC communicated reduced allocations of nominations to all the PNPs, along with reduced Atlantic Immigration Program allocations to the Atlantic provinces. In the wake of this change, many of Canada’s provinces have had to adjust their provincial immigration programs accordingly.
For instance, New Brunswick has imposed new restrictions as well as eligibility criteria on their immigration streams after seeing their allocations reduced. Furthermore, the Yukon Nominee Program chose to delay its first intake of applications in 2025.
In the midst of this reshuffling, IRCC has also given provinces a path to regain their immigrant landings allocations this year, i.e., accept more humanitarian immigrants. Newfoundland and Labrador was able to regain more than 90% of its immigrant allocations by agreeing to accept over 290 humanitarian immigrants over the next two years.
Moreover, these changes have caused delays in PNP activity, as provinces look to adjust to new landings levels and negotiate with IRCC to regain lost provincial nomination spots. Also, the OINP plans to announce its 2025 nomination allocation once it is finalized.
MakeHomeCanada, a Canadian immigration leader, promises excellence and tailored pathways for your Canadian journey. Get in touch with us at [email protected].
